Mobility vehicle

ABSTRACT

A pump-action mobility vehicle may include a pumping arm attached to a foot slide. As the pumping arm is actuated, the foot slide moves forward and rearward in response to the pumping action. The foot slide may be connected to a drive mechanism that selectively engages a chain or belt that loops around a drive wheel arranged on an axle of the vehicle. When the drive mechanism catches and moves the belt or chain in a forward direction, the axle rotates in a forward direction to drive the vehicle forward. A reverse mechanism may also be provided that selectively causes the drive mechanism to catch and drive the belt or chain in an opposite direction.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This invention is a non-provisional of, and claims priority from, U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/830,454, filed Apr. 7, 2019,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to mobility vehicles. Moreparticularly, this invention relates primarily to mobility vehicles suchas wheelchairs and the like that are specially designed to provideincreased mobility and therapy for handicapped individuals.

Related Art

Applicant is an inventor of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,829,772; 6,179,314;6,932,370; and 10,479,439, the contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Pump-Actionvehicles have been used as children's toys and as therapy devices forchildren with disabilities, including learning or developmentaldisorders. They have also been proposed as transportation devices foradults.

Conventional wheelchairs can be bulky and difficult to operate. Inparticular, manually-operated wheelchairs include large driving wheelsthat can be cumbersome and difficult for many people to operate. Theycan also be difficult to position in relationship to furniture such asdining tables or other tables. Powered wheelchairs provide no exercisefor the operator. Furthermore, conventional wheelchairs provide nomechanism for exercising a person's legs while operating.

What would be desirable is a mobility device that permits movement basedon simple arm motions and provides enhanced convenience, comfort,accessibility, and movement to users of the mobility device, includinghandicapped persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to various embodiments and principles of the present inventiveconcepts, a mobility vehicle can be provided having numerousimprovements over the related art, including, for instance, a smallfootprint and tight turn radius, along with an improved driving systemand increased therapeutic benefits. The mobility vehicle can also beeasily transportable.

In particular, principles of the present inventive concepts provide amobility vehicle that can be driven using simple arm motions such as apumping or rowing action. A pumper arm may be provided, for instance,which propels the vehicle through a simple pumping action.Alternatively, rowing arms may be provided which propel the vehiclebased on a simple rowing action. A motor can also be provided to assistin providing movement.

A mobility vehicle according to principles of the present inventiveconcepts can further include one or more foot slides (or step plates)that engage the feet of the operator and slide forward and backwardduring operation of the pumper or rowing arms. The foot slide(s) may bemounted to a frame of the vehicle through sliding rails or othermechanisms that permit the slides to move forward and backward along theframe during operation of the vehicle. One or more sliding rails couldbe provided for the foot slide. Stops or limiters could be provided onthe frame to limit the forward and rearward movement of the footslide(s) along the rails.

In one embodiment, a foot slide is attached to the frame on two sliderails that permit the foot slide to slide smoothly forward and rearward.Stops are provided on the frame to limit the forward and rearwardmovement of the foot slide. The foot slide is preferably connected to abottom end of the pumper arm. As the pumper arm is actuated, the footslide moves forward and backward along the rails in opposition to themovement of the handle bar. More particularly, as the handle bar ispulled rearward (or backward toward the operator), the foot slide movesforward. As the handle bar is pushed forward, the foot slide movesrearward.

The foot slide can have one or more guards that help keep an operator'sfeet in position within the foot slide during operation. The guardscould, for instance, be raised edges of the slide itself or otherattached ridges or structures that keep the operator's feet from slidingout of the foot slide. The foot slide could include two, separate footslides, one for each foot. Using the foot slide(s) connected to thepumper or rower arms, the operator's feet can move forward and rearwardduring operation of the vehicle and provide therapeutic exercise to theoperator's legs.

When possible, the operator could also move the foot slide(s) themselvesusing their leg muscles to assist in the pumping action. The footslide(s) can include a tread pattern and/or friction surface that helpsmaintain traction between the operator's feet and the foot slide. Forinstance, a tread pattern can be formed directly on the foot slide, or arubberized or other gripping surface can be provided on top of the footslide.

In an embodiment having two rower arms rather than a single pumper arm,two foot slides could be provided, each connected to an individual oneof the rower arms. The foot slides in this embodiment move forward andrearward in opposition to the movement of the corresponding rower arm.

The pumper or rower arms may further connect to a steering mechanism ofthe vehicle through a universal joint located at the pivot point of thearms. The front wheel or wheels are preferably arranged on pivot pinsthat permit them to swivel right or left. A steering bar or steeringbars are connected to the wheel(s) to cause them to pivot left or righton their pivot pins. A steering arm is preferably connected to thesteering bar(s). The steering arm is connected to the pumper or rowerarms through the universal joint. When the pumper or rowing arms areturned, the steering arm rotates in response and pivots the connectedwheel(s) to turn the vehicle.

The pumper arm, for instance, may include a handle bar connected to asteering arm that extends downward between bracket-like structuresarranged on opposite sides of the steering arm. A bottom end of thepumper arm is preferably connected to the foot slide.

In one embodiment, a mobility vehicle permits an operator to operate thevehicle using their arms and/or legs. Additionally, or alternatively, abattery-powered motor may provide all, a portion, or none of the drivingforce needed to operate the vehicle. A pumper arm assembly propels themobility vehicle through a simple pumping action. A foot slide (or stepplate) may engage the feet of the operator and slide forward andbackward during operation of the pumper arm assembly. The foot slide maybe mounted to a frame of the vehicle on sliding rails that permit thefoot slide to slide forward and backward along the frame. Stops (orlimiters) may be provided to limit the forward and/or rearward movementof the foot slide(s). A step plate support or reinforcement may also beprovided which adds additional stability to the foot slide.

The foot slide may be connected to a bottom end of the pumper armassembly through transfer arms and transfer linkages. The transferlinkages may be adjustable in length to finely tune the relationshipbetween the pumper arm assembly and the foot slide. As the pumper arm isactuated, the foot slide moves forward and backward along the rails inopposition to the movement of the pumper arm handle bar. Moreparticularly, as the handle bar moves backward, the foot slide movesforward. As the handle bar moves forward, the foot slide moves rearward.

The foot slide (step plate) can have one or more guards (not shown) thathelp keep an operator's feet in position within the foot slide duringoperation. The guards could, for instance, be raised edges of the slideitself or other attached ridges or structures that keep the operator'sfeet from sliding out of the foot slide. Using the foot slide connectedto the pumper arm assembly, the operator's feet can move forward andrearward during operation of the vehicle and provide therapeuticexercise to the operator's legs even when they are not used to helpprovide the driving force.

The operator could, however, use their leg muscles to move the footslide themselves to assist in the pumping action. The foot slide caninclude a tread pattern and/or friction surface (not shown) that helpsmaintain traction between the operator's feet and the foot slide. Forinstance, a tread pattern can be formed directly on the foot slide, or arubberized or other gripping surface can be provided on top of the footslide.

A steering assembly can be provided in which the pumper arm handle barconnects to a steering mechanism of the vehicle through a universaljoint located at the pivot point of the pumper arm. The pumper armassembly, for instance, may include a handle bar connected to a steeringarm, with a bracket-like structured pumper arm that extends downwardalong opposite sides of the steering arm. A bottom end of the pumper armis preferably connected to the foot slide through the transfer arms andtransfer linkages. A hinge mechanism preferably connects the pumper armto a pumper arm base that is, in turn, connected to the frame.

The front wheel is preferably mounted to the steering mechanism (in thisembodiment, a steering fork), and the steering mechanism is arranged insuch a way that it can swivel right and left with the front wheel. Thesteering arm may be connected to the steering mechanism through asteering bar. The steering arm may be connected directly to the handlebar or rower arms and then connected to the steering bar through theuniversal joint. When the handle bar is turned, the steering arm andsteering bar rotate in response and pivot the steering mechanism,connected to the front wheel, to turn the vehicle. Bearings and bearingsupports may be provided to align the steering arm and steering barwithin the pumper arm and pumper arm base.

A battery powered motor and associated battery may be provided to assistin providing a driving force to the vehicle. The motor may be connectedto the driving axle through a belt, chain, or other connectionmechanism. In one embodiment, the operator is given the option ofselecting how much assistance to receive from the motor. The selectionmay range anywhere from no assistance to maximum assistance. A sensormay also be provided that detects when the operator is having difficultypowering the vehicle and activates the motor assist in response.

In this embodiment, the driving mechanism may include a driving beltthat travels in a loop around two wheels. A first, free spinning wheelis arranged toward the front of the vehicle. A second, drive wheel isfixidly attached to the driving axle, to force rotation of the drivingaxle in the direction of the rotation of the drive wheel. The belt andwheels could, of course, be readily replaced with a chain and sprockets.

A driving mechanism may be arranged over the belt and move forward andbackward along with the foot slide in response to motion of the pumperarm. The driving mechanism may include a base, a bracket, and a drivingcatch that is pivotably mounted in the bracket. The driving catch may bebiased by a spring into a forward driving position, or it may beactivated into a forward driving position by a squeeze lever or othermechanism on the handle, or any other mechanical orelectrically-assisted activation device.

In the forward driving position, a first engaging end of the drivingcatch engages with teeth in the belt. The first engaging end of thecatch is designed such that it engages with the teeth of the belt whenmoving in a first (forward) direction, but slides past the teeth withoutengagement when moving in a second, opposite direction. In this manner,as the driving mechanism moves forward with the foot slide, the firstengaging end of the catch engages with the teeth of the belt to drivethe belt forward. As it does so, the drive wheel is driven forward,driving the axle (along with the connected rear wheels) in a forwarddirection as well. Thus, the mobility vehicle is driven forward inresponse to pumper arm assembly movement.

A reverse mechanism can also be provided that enables operation in areverse direction. The reverse mechanism may operate by pivoting thedriving member into a reverse position against the force provided by thespring. This can be accomplished, for example, using a squeeze handlearranged on the handle bar, or through the use of some other lever orswitch that may be connected to the driving mechanism through cabling,for example. When the reverse mechanism is actuated, the driving memberis pivoted such that an opposite, second engaging end of the drivingmember engages the belt. The second engaging end of the driving memberis configured to engage teeth of the belt when moving in a rearwarddirection, but slide freely without engaging the belt when moving in aforward direction. In this manner, with the reverse mechanism engaged,the driving mechanism engages and drives the belt in a rearwarddirection, causing the rear drive wheel, axle, and rear wheels to movein a reverse direction. The vehicle is thus driven rearward in responseto movement of the pumper arm and foot slide. The reverse mechanism canalso be configured to cause the motor to drive the vehicle in thereverse direction.

In an alternative embodiment, two driving mechanisms can be provided todrive the belt or chain. This embodiment may be useful, for example,when rowing arms are used rather than a pumper arm.

In another embodiment, the driving mechanism may include a driving chainthat travels in a loop around two sprockets. A first, free spinningsprocket is arranged near the front of the vehicle. A second, drivingsprocket is fixidly attached to the driving axle, to force rotation ofthe driving axle in the direction of the rotation of the drivingsprocket.

A forward driving catch may be arranged over the chain and move forwardand backward along with the foot slide in response to motion of thepumper arm. The forward driving catch closes over the chain and catchesand pulls on the top segment of the chain as it moves forward with thefoot slide. As the top of the chain is driven forward, the rearwarddriving sprocket is also driven forward along with the axle and attachedwheels. Thus, the mobility vehicle is driven forward in response topumper arm movement. The forward driving catch may be configured tocatch by default, or it may be activated by a squeeze lever or othermechanism on the handle, or any other mechanical orelectrically-assisted activation device. In an embodiment with anactivation mechanism, the forward driving catch may close over and catchthe chain only when activated and the driving mechanism may be in aneutral position by default.

The forward driving catch may provide a ratchet-like action that catchesand drives the chain forward during forward movement of the catch, butslides rearward freely without catching the chain. This can beaccomplished, for instance, by providing engaging edges on the forwardend of the catch that catch on the chain as the forward driving catchmoves forward. The rearward end of the catch, however, can be open, orslanted away from the chain so that the forward driving catch slidesfreely rearward without engaging the chain.

A reverse mechanism can be provided in a similar manner. Specifically, arearward driving catch can also be provided over a bottom segment of thechain and move forward and rearward along with the foot slide. Therearward driving catch may be activated by a squeeze handle or otheractivation device. When activated, the rearward driving catch closesover the chain and catches and pulls forward on the bottom of the chainas it moves forward with the foot slide as the pumper arm is pulled. Asthe bottom of the chain is pulled forward, the driving sprocket anddriving axle are driven in reverse, causing rearward motion of themobility vehicle. The forward driving catch should also be deactivatedwhile the reverse driving catch is active. The reverse driving catch mayhave a ratchet-like construction similar to the forward driving catchsuch that it grabs and pulls the chain during forward movement, butslides freely along the chain during rearward movement.

In an alternative embodiment, the chain may be replaced by a belt orother driving system that circles around a free spinning front wheel orpulley and the rearward driving axle. The belt can be configured toprovide the driving force to the axle, and the forward and rearwarddriving catches can be configured to pull the belt in a forwarddirection along the top or bottom of the belt, respectively, to drivethe axle in the desired direction for forward or rearward movement ofthe vehicle.

In addition to the forward and rearward settings, a neutral setting mayalso be provided in which the foot slide and pumper arm do not engagethe driving chain or belt. This setting may be provided to disable thepump-action power when a service provider desires to push or pull thevehicle without possible interference by the vehicle occupant, or when avehicle occupant desires to coast without movement of the pumper arm orfoot slide.

In another embodiment, the driving mechanism of the vehicle includes oneor more sprockets arranged on an axle along with a drive wheel. Thesprocket receives a chain connected to the pumper or rowing arms (suchas through the foot slide) and rotates in response to the arm movement.Gears on the sprocket engage with a drive gear connected to the drivewheel to drive the drive wheel.

In a still further embodiment, two sprockets are provided on a drivingassembly to selectively permit either forward or rearward movement ofthe vehicle based on pumper arm action. A first sprocket is connected toa forward driving gear, both of which are rotatably and slidably mountedon the axle on one side of the drive wheel. A second sprocket isconnected to a rearward driving gear and both are rotatably and slidablymounted on the axle on an opposite side of the drive wheel from thefirst sprocket. The first and second sprockets drive their respectivegears only in one direction (either forward or reverse, respectively)while spinning freely in the opposite direction.

A chain and spring assembly is provided for each of the sprockets. Afirst chain is arranged such that a first end of the first chainconnects to the foot slide (or pumper arm). The first chain runs fromthe foot slide to a top of the first sprocket and then around the firstsprocket. The second end of the first chain, coming from below the firstsprocket, connects to one end of a first spring that is connected at itsother end to the frame. As the pumper arm is actuated (pulled rearward),the foot slide moves forward, pulling the first chain along with it. Asthe first chain is pulled, it drives the first sprocket in a forwarddirection along with the connected forward driving gear and stretchesthe first spring. The first spring pulls the first chain back into itsoriginal position as the pumper arm moves forward again.

The second chain is arranged such that a first end of the second chainconnects to one end of a spring that is connected at its other end tothe frame. The chain extends from the spring to the top of the secondsprocket and then around the sprocket. The second end of the secondchain, coming from below the second sprocket, connects to the foot slide(or pumper arm). As the pumper arm is actuated, the second chain drivesthe second sprocket in a reverse direction along with its connectedrearward driving gear. The second spring pulls the second chain backinto its original position as the pumper arm moves forward again.

A chain retention system could be provided for one or both of the chainsto reduce the length of spring needed to retract the chain to itsoriginal position. The chain retention system could include a pulleymounted on an end of a lever arm that is pivotably mounted to the frame.Rather than attach a spring to the end of the chain, a spring isattached to the lever arm such that the lever arm is biased in anextended position. The chain is connected to the frame at a first endnear the chain retention system and extends around the pulley, to thesprocket, and then around the sprocket to the foot slide connectionpoint. As the pump arm retracts and the foot slide moves forward, thechain pulls down on the pulley and lever arm and stretches the spring.When the pump arm moves forward, the spring pulls on the lever arm toraise it back into its extended position and return the chain to itsstarting position.

In this embodiment, a drive wheel hub may be rotatably mounted at acenter location on the axle. A drive wheel gear may be rotatablyarranged on the hub, and the drive wheel may be rigidly secured to thedrive wheel gear to rotate along with the drive wheel gear. The drivewheel gear preferably includes teeth on both right and left side facesof the drive wheel gear.

The first and second sprockets may be connected to each other throughthe drive wheel hub using one or more pins or other mechanicalconnection that maintains them at a constant, predetermined distancefrom each other. The mechanical connection between the sprocketspreferably maintains a constant distance between the first and secondsprockets (with their associated gears) as they slide back and forthalong the axle. One or more springs arranged on the axle preferably biasthe sprockets in a position where the forward driving gear, connected tothe first sprocket, engages a first side of the drive wheel geararranged on the same side of the drive wheel as the first sprocket. Withthe forward driving gear engaged, the drive wheel is driven in a forwardrotation as the pumper arm is operated, causing the vehicle to moveforward.

A squeeze bar is preferably provided on one side of the pumper armhandle or one of the rowing-style handles. The squeeze bar may beconnected to an actuator bar or shifting mechanism through a cablesystem. The actuator bar is preferably connected to the sprocketassembly. When the squeeze bar is squeezed, the cable tightens andactivates the actuator arm or shifting mechanism to move the sprocketassembly. More particularly, in response to a squeeze of the squeezebar, the actuator arm or shifting mechanism slides the sprocket assemblyagainst the spring bias into a reverse position. The actuator arm may,for instance, be a curved rod or bar that communicates with the secondsprocket.

The squeeze bar may, for instance, be configured such that a squeeze of¾ inch or less is sufficient to move the sprocket assembly between itsforward and reverse positions. As the sprocket assembly slides to thereverse position, the forward driving gear disengages from the drivewheel gear, and the rearward driving gear connected to the secondsprocket engages with the drive wheel gear on the side opposite theforward driving gear. In this position, as the pumper arm is operated,the driving wheel is driven in a reverse direction, causing the vehicleto move backwards.

Of course, any other desired actuating mechanism (whether mechanical,electrical, or a combination of the two) such as a lever, button, dial,slide, or other device could be used to shift the sprockets from theirforward-driving engagement to their rearward-driving engagement. Oncethe actuating or shifting mechanism is deactuated, the bias springdrives the first sprocket and forward driving gear back into engagementwith the drive wheel gear and disengages the rearward driving gear sothat operation of the pumper arm will drive the vehicle forward again.The teeth of the driving gears and drive wheel gear can be beveled orangled on their non-driving edges to permit self-alignment as thedriving gears are moved into position.

A similar transmission system could also be employed on pedal and othervehicles to shift from forward to reverse. In an embodiment having twohandles, such as a rowing-style design, an extra sprocket could beprovided on each side of the drive wheel. The extra sprockets facilitatethe opposing forward and backward movement of the two handles.

A braking system can also be provided. The braking system could includea braking bar that pushes against the drive wheel when the brake isactuated. The brake could be actuated using a squeeze lever arranged ona handle opposite to the reverse-actuating mechanism. The squeeze levercould be connected to the braking bar through a cabling system. When thebrake squeeze lever is squeezed, the cable tightens and pulls thebraking lever up against the drive wheel. The braking system could belockable to lock the brake in place and keep the vehicle from moving.The brake locking system could, for instance, be a toggle type system inthe squeeze lever or a separate latch that folds over the squeeze leverand locks it in place. Of course, the braking system could be actuatedin any other desirable manner and include any other desired type ofbraking system. For instance, a hand lever connected to the frame couldbe used to actuate and release the brake.

The drive wheel may include an inflatable tire with a tread patternmounted thereon and designed to engage a ground surface and providesufficient traction to move the vehicle. The drive wheel may be arrangedsubstantially directly underneath a seat of the vehicle (for instance,just rearward of a seat post) so that the operator's center of gravityis arranged substantially directly above the drive wheel.

The seat itself may be foldable, rotatable, lockable, and removable.More particularly, the seat back may fold down. The seat may swivel topermit easier operator entry and to facilitate positioning of the usernext to a table. The seat may be lockable in a forward-facing positionduring operation of the vehicle and may be lockable in other desiredpositions as well. And the seat may be readily-removable by simplylifting it off of its seat post. The seat could also be lockablyattached to the vehicle to prevent undesired removal.

In addition to the drive wheel with its inflatable tire, two additionalwheels and tires may be provided on opposite ends of the rear axle toprovide stability. In one embodiment, these stabilizing wheels arepreferably free-spinning wheels having a hard rubber tire. Furthermore,the stabilizing tires may contain little or no tread. The tires on thedriving wheel and stabilizing wheels preferably have approximately thesame diameter to keep the vehicle from rocking from side to side duringoperation.

To further improve transportability of the vehicle, the entire front endof the vehicle (including for instance, the forward pumping and steeringassembly) could be foldable to collapse against the frame of thevehicle. In one such embodiment, the front end assembly could be mountedto the rest of the frame through a hinged joint. A spring biased latchcould be provided to mate within a bracket on the frame to securely holdthe front end assembly in its operating position. To collapse the frontend, the latch could be released using a release mechanism. The releasemechanism could, for example, be a lever, button, dial, slide, or anyother desired release mechanism.

In each of these embodiments, a small motor could be provided as anassistance mechanism to help propel the vehicle. In one embodiment, oneor more sensors can be provided that sense resistance as an operatorattempts to operate the pumper arms and propel the vehicle. If a largeamount of resistance is detected (such as on an incline or for userswith less arm mobility or strength), the sensors can detect this andengage the motor. The motor is preferably connected to the axle to helpprovide a driving force for the vehicle when needed. The motor may alsobe controllable to drive the axle in either a forward or reversedirection.

A user selectable switch or other user selectable control could beprovided to enable the user to select how much assistance they wouldlike from the motor. A user could, for example, choose to operate thevehicle completely manually, or the user could select up to a maximumamount of assistance from the motor. Preferably, the switch or otheruser selectable control permits a wide range of options between theminimum and maximum assistance.

Various aspects, embodiments, and configurations of the inventiveconcepts are possible without departing from the principles disclosedherein. The inventive concepts are therefore not limited to any of theparticular aspects, embodiments, or configurations shown or describedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional objects, features, and advantages of thepresent inventive concepts will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description, made with reference to the attachedfigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a mobility vehicleaccording to principles of the present inventive concepts;

FIG. 1A is a somewhat schematic exploded perspective view of themobility vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a pumper arm of themobility vehicle of FIG. 1, according to additional principles of thepresent inventive concepts;

FIG. 2A is a somewhat schematic exploded perspective view of the pumperarm of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic illustration of a belt drive assembly forthe mobility vehicle of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of thepresent inventive concepts;

FIG. 3A is a somewhat schematic illustration of the belt drive assemblyof FIG. 3, illustrating operation in a reverse direction; and

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic illustration of a belt drive assemblyaccording to an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various features, benefits, and configurations incorporating principlesof the present inventive concepts in an illustrative embodiment areshown in the accompanying drawings. Additional features, benefits andconfigurations will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art based on this disclosure, and all such features, benefits andconfigurations are considered within the scope of the present invention.Various features will now be described in greater detail in connectionwith an embodiment of the present inventive concepts, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, a mobility vehicle100 is provided which permits an operator to operate the vehicle 100using their arms and/or legs. The vehicle 100 may additionally, oralternatively, provide leg and arm movement to the operator whileoperating using a battery-powered motor 122. The battery-powered motor122 may provide all, a portion, or none of the driving force needed tooperate the vehicle 100. In other words, the motor 122 may selectivelyprovide the driving force for the vehicle 100, assist in providing thedriving force for the vehicle 100, or be disabled from providing anyassistance, dependent upon the needs or desires of the operator.

A pumper arm assembly 102 may be provided which propels the mobilityvehicle 100 through a simple pumping action. A foot slide (or stepplate) assembly 112 may also be provided which engages the feet of theoperator and slides forward and backward during operation of the pumperarm assembly 102.

More specifically, the foot slide assembly 112 may include one or morefoot slides 114 mounted to a frame 150 of the vehicle 100 through slides113 a arranged on sliding rails 113. The foot slide 114 may thereby beenabled to move forward and backward along the frame 150 duringoperation of the vehicle 100. Stops or limiters (not shown) may beprovided on the frame 150 or rails 113 to limit the forward and/orrearward movement of the foot slide 114 along the rails 113. A stepplate support or reinforcement 114 a may also be provided which addsadditional stability to the foot slide 114.

The foot slide 114 may be connected to a bottom end of the pumper armassembly 102 through transfer arms 110 and transfer linkages 111. Thetransfer linkages 111 may be adjustable in length to finely tune therelationship between the pumper arm assembly 102 and the foot slideassembly 112. As the pumper arm 104 is actuated, the foot slide 114moves forward and backward along the rails 113 in opposition to themovement of the pumper arm handle bar 103. More particularly, as thehandle bar 103 moves backward, the foot slide 114 moves forward. As thehandle bar 103 moves forward, the foot slide 114 moves rearward.

The foot slide (step plate) 114 can have one or more guards (not shown)that help keep an operator's feet in position within the foot slide 114during operation. The guards could, for instance, be raised edges of theslide 114 itself or other attached ridges or structures that keep theoperator's feet from sliding out of the foot slide 114. Using the footslide 114 connected to the pumper arm assembly 102, the operator's feetcan move forward and rearward during operation of the vehicle 100 andprovide therapeutic exercise to the operator's legs even when they arenot used to help provide the driving force.

The operator could, however, use their leg muscles to move the footslide 114 themselves to assist in the pumping action. The foot slide 114can include a tread pattern and/or friction surface (not shown) thathelps maintain traction between the operator's feet and the foot slide114. For instance, a tread pattern can be formed directly on the footslide 114, or a rubberized or other gripping surface can be provided ontop of the foot slide 114.

Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2 and 2A, the pumper arm assembly102 may include a pumper arm handle bar 103 that connects to a steeringmechanism 109 of the vehicle 100 through a universal joint 105 locatedat the pivot point of the pumper arm 104. The pumper arm assembly 102,for instance, may include a handle bar 103 connected to a steering arm106, with a bracket-like structured pumper arm 104 that extends downwardalong opposite sides of the steering arm 106. A bottom end of the pumperarm 104 is preferably connected to the foot slide 114 through transferarms 110 and transfer linkages 111. A hinge mechanism 107 connects thepumper arm 104 to the pumper arm base 104 a. The pumper arm base 104 amay be connected to the frame 150.

One or more wheels may be connected to the steering mechanism. In thisembodiment, a single front wheel 130 is preferably mounted to thesteering mechanism (in this embodiment, a steering fork) 109, and thesteering mechanism 109 is arranged in such a way that it can swivelright and left with the front wheel 130. The steering arm 106 ispreferably connected to the steering mechanism 109 through a steeringbar 106 a. The steering arm 106 may be connected directly to the handlebar 103 or rower arms (not shown) and then connected to the steering bar106 a through the universal joint 105. When the handle bar 103 isturned, the steering arm 106 and steering bar 106 a rotate in responseand pivot the steering mechanism 109, connected to the front wheel 130,to turn the vehicle 100. Bearings 108 and bearing supports 108 a may beprovided to align the steering arm 106 and steering bar 106 a within thepumper arm 104 and pumper arm base 104 a, respectively.

A battery powered motor 122 and associated battery 121 may be includedto assist in providing a driving force to the vehicle 100. The motor 122may be connected to the driving axle 200 through a belt, chain, or otherconnection mechanism. In one embodiment, the operator is given theoption of selecting how much assistance to receive from the motor 122.The selection may range anywhere from no assistance to maximumassistance. A sensor may also be provided that detects when the operatoris having difficulty powering the vehicle and activates the motor assistin response.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 and 3A, an operation of the mobilityvehicle 100, according to this embodiment, will now be described in moredetail. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3A, in this embodiment, thedriving mechanism 210 may be provided to drive a driving belt 206 thattravels in a loop around two wheels 202, 204. A first, free spinningwheel 202 may be arranged near the front of the vehicle 100. And asecond drive wheel 204 may be fixidly attached to the driving axle 200to force rotation of the driving axle 200 in the direction of therotation of the drive wheel 204. Although this particular embodimentillustrates a belt 206 and wheels 202, 204, those could readily bereplaced with a chain and sprockets.

A driving mechanism 210 may be arranged over the belt 206 and moveforward and backward along with the foot slide 114 in response to motionof the pumper arm 104. The driving mechanism 210 may include a base 212,a bracket 214, and a driving catch 216 pivotably mounted in the bracket214. The driving catch 216 may be biased by a spring 218 into a forwarddriving position (as shown in FIG. 3), or it may be activated into aforward driving position by a squeeze lever or other mechanism on thehandle, or any other mechanical or electrically-assisted activationdevice (not shown).

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, in the forward driving position, afirst engaging end 216 a of the driving catch 216 engages with teeth inthe belt 206. The first engaging end 216 a of the catch 216 is designedsuch that it engages with the teeth of the belt 216 when moving in afirst (forward) direction, but slides past the teeth without engagementwhen moving in a second, opposite direction. In this manner, as thedriving mechanism 210 moves forward with the foot slide 114, the firstengaging end 216 a of the catch 216 engages with the teeth of the belt206 to drive the belt forward. As it does so, the drive wheel 204 isdriven forward, driving the axle 200 (along with the connected rearwheels 132) in a forward direction as well. Thus, the mobility vehicle100 is driven forward in response to pumper arm assembly 102 movement.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, a reverse mechanism can be provided thatenables operation in a reverse direction by pivoting the driving member216 against the force provided by the spring 218. This can beaccomplished, for example, using a squeeze handle (not shown) on thehandle bar 103, or other lever or switch that may be connected to thedriving mechanism 210 through cabling, for example. When the reversemechanism is actuated, the driving member 216 is pivoted such that anopposite, second engaging end 216 b of the driving member 216 engagesthe belt 206. The second engaging end 216 b of the driving member 216 isconfigured to engage teeth of the belt 206 when moving in a rearwarddirection, but slide freely without engaging the belt teeth when movingin a forward direction. In this manner, with the reverse mechanismengaged, the driving mechanism 210 engages and drives the belt 206 in arearward direction, causing the rear drive wheel 204, axle 200, and rearwheels 132 to move in a reverse direction, thereby driving the vehicle100 rearward, in response to movement of the pumper arm 104 and footslide 114. The reverse mechanism can also be configured to cause themotor 122 to drive the axle in the reverse direction.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, two driving mechanisms210, 210A can be provided. This embodiment may be useful, for example,when rowing arms are used rather than a pumper arm. Each of the drivingmechanisms 210, 210A may operate in a manner similar to that describedabove.

Although not shown in the drawings, numerous other embodiments arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinventive concepts. For example, in one embodiment, two sprockets may beprovided on a driving assembly to selectively permit either forward orrearward movement of the vehicle based on pumper arm action. A firstsprocket may be connected to a forward driving gear, and both the firstsprocket and the driving gear may be rotatably and slidably mounted onthe axle on one side of the drive wheel. A second sprocket may beconnected to a rearward driving gear and both of these may be rotatablyand slidably mounted on the axle on an opposite side of the drive wheelfrom the first sprocket. The first and second sprockets drive theirrespective gears only in one direction (either forward or reverse,respectively) while spinning freely in the opposite direction.

A chain and spring assembly may be provided for each of the sprockets. Afirst chain is arranged such that a first end of the first chainconnects to the foot slide (or pumper arm). The first chain runs fromthe foot slide to a top of the first sprocket and then around the firstsprocket. The second end of the first chain, coming from below the firstsprocket, connects to one end of a first spring that is connected at itsother end to the frame. As the pumper arm is actuated (pulled rearward),the foot slide moves forward, pulling the first chain along with it. Asthe first chain is pulled, it drives the first sprocket in a forwarddirection along with the connected forward driving gear and stretchesthe first spring. The first spring pulls the first chain back into itsoriginal position as the pumper arm moves forward again.

The second chain is arranged such that a first end of the second chainconnects to one end of a spring that is connected at its other end tothe frame. The chain extends from the spring to the top of the secondsprocket and then around the sprocket. The second end of the secondchain, coming from below the second sprocket, connects to the foot slide(or pumper arm). As the pumper arm is actuated, the second chain drivesthe second sprocket in a reverse direction along with its connectedrearward driving gear. The second spring pulls the second chain backinto its original position as the pumper arm moves forward again.

A chain retention system can be provided for one or both of the chainsto reduce the length of spring needed to retract the chain to itsoriginal position. The chain retention system could include a pulleymounted on an end of a lever that is pivotably mounted to the frame.Rather than attach a spring to the end of the chain, a spring isattached to the lever such that the lever is biased in an extendedposition. The chain is connected to the frame at a first end near thechain retention system and extends around the pulley, to the sprocketand then around the sprocket to the foot slide connection point. As thepump arm retracts and the foot slide moves forward, the chain pulls downon the pulley and lever and stretches the spring. When the pump armmoves forward, the spring pulls back on the lever to raise it back intoits extended position and return the chain to its starting position.

A drive wheel hub is rotatably mounted at a center location on the axle.A drive wheel gear is rotatably arranged on the hub, and the drive wheelis rigidly secured to the drive wheel gear to rotate along with thedrive wheel gear. The drive wheel gear preferably includes teeth on bothright and left side faces of the drive wheel gear.

The first and second sprockets may be connected to each other throughthe drive wheel hub using one or more pins or other mechanicalconnection that maintains them at a constant, predetermined distancefrom each other. The mechanical connection between the sprocketsmaintains the constant distance between the first and second sprockets(with their associated gears) as they slide back and forth along theaxle. One or more springs arranged on the axle preferably bias thesprockets in a position where the forward driving gear connected to thefirst sprocket engages a first side of the drive wheel gear arranged onthe same side of the drive wheel as the first sprocket. An inflatablerubber tire may be arranged on the drive wheel to engage with a travelsurface. With the forward driving gear engaged, the drive wheel isdriven in a forward rotation as the pumper arm is operated, causing thevehicle to move forward.

A squeeze bar is preferably provided on one side of the pumper armhandles. The squeeze bar may be connected to an actuator arm (or othershifting mechanism) through a cable system. The actuator bar ispreferably connected to the sprocket assembly. When the squeeze bar issqueezed, the cable tightens and activates the actuator arm to move thesprocket assembly. More particularly, in response to a squeeze of thesqueeze bar, the actuator arm slides the sprocket assembly against thespring bias into a reverse position. The actuator arm may, for instance,be a curved rod that communicates with the second sprocket. The squeezebar may, for instance, be configured such that a squeeze of ¾ inch orless is sufficient to move the sprocket assembly between its forward andreverse positions.

In one aspect, the squeeze bar pulls a cable connected to a shiftingmechanism. As the cable tightens, the shifting mechanism moves forward.The shifting mechanism is mounted on the axle near the second sprocketand has a narrow portion, a wide portion, and a curved slide surfacebetween the narrow and wide portion. In the biased position, the narrowportion sits between the second sprocket and an axle mount. As theshifting mechanism moves forward, it slides such that the wider portionis slid into position between the axle mount and the second sprocket,pushing the sprocket assembly into the reverse position.

As the sprocket assembly slides to the reverse position, the forwarddriving gear disengages from the drive wheel gear, and the rearwarddriving gear connected to the second sprocket engages with the drivewheel gear on the side opposite the forward driving gear. In thisposition, as the pumper arm is operated, and the drive wheel is drivenin a reverse direction, causing the vehicle to move backwards.

Of course, any other desired actuating mechanism such as a lever,button, dial, slide, or other device could be used to shift thesprockets from their forward-driving engagement to theirrearward-driving engagement. Once the actuating (or shifting) mechanismis deactuated, the bias spring drives the first sprocket and forwarddriving gear back into engagement with the drive wheel gear anddisengages the rearward driving gear so that operation of the pumper armwill drive the vehicle forward again. The teeth of the driving gears anddrive wheel gear can be beveled or angled on their non-driving edges topermit self-alignment as the driving gears are moved into position.

A braking system can also be provided. The braking system could includea braking bar that pushes against the drive wheel when the brake isactuated. The brake could be actuated using a squeeze lever arranged ona handle opposite to the reverse-actuating mechanism. The squeeze levercould be connected to the braking bar through a cabling system. When thebrake squeeze lever is squeezed, the cable tightens and pulls thebraking lever up against the drive wheel. The braking system could belockable to lock the brake in place and keep the vehicle from moving.The brake locking system could, for instance, be a toggle type system inthe squeeze lever or a separate latch that folds over the squeeze leverand locks it in place. Of course, the braking system could be actuatedin any other desirable manner and include any other desired type ofbraking system. For instance, a hand lever connected to the frame couldbe used to actuate and release the brake.

The drive wheel could include an inflatable tire mounted thereon with atread pattern designed to engage a ground surface and provide sufficienttraction to move the vehicle. The drive wheel may be arrangedsubstantially directly underneath a seat of the vehicle (for instance,just rearward of a seat post) so that the operator's center of gravityis arranged substantially directly above the drive wheel.

The seat itself may be foldable, rotatable, lockable, and removable.More particularly, the seat back may fold down. The seat may swivel topermit easier operator entry and to facilitate positioning of the usernext to a table. The seat may be lockable in a forward-facing positionduring operation of the vehicle and may be lockable in other desiredpositions as well. And the seat may be readily-removable by simplylifting it off of its seat post. The seat could also be lockablyattached to the vehicle to prevent undesired removal.

In addition to the driving wheel and inflatable tire, two additionalwheels and tires may be provided on opposite ends of the rear axle toprovide stability. In one embodiment, these stabilizing wheels arepreferably free-spinning wheels having a hard rubber tire. Furthermore,the stabilizing tires may contain little or no tread. The tires on thedriving wheel and stabilizing wheels preferably have approximately thesame diameter to keep the vehicle from rocking from side to side duringoperation.

To further improve transportability of the vehicle, the entire front endof the vehicle (including for instance, the forward pumping and steeringassembly) could be foldable to collapse against the frame of thevehicle. In one such embodiment, the front end assembly could be mountedto the rest of the frame through a hinged joint. A spring biased latchcould be provided to mate within a bracket on the frame to securely holdthe front end assembly in its operating position. To collapse the frontend, the latch could be released using a release mechanism. The releasemechanism could, for example, be a lever, button, dial, slide, or anyother desired release mechanism.

In another alternative embodiment, rower arms can be provided ratherthan a single pumper arm. In such an embodiment, two foot slides couldbe provided, each connected to an individual one of the rower arms. Thefoot slides in this embodiment move forward and rearward in oppositionto the movement of the corresponding rower arm. In an embodiment havingtwo handles, such as a rowing-style design, an extra sprocket could beprovided on each side of the drive wheel. The extra sprockets facilitatethe opposing forward and backward movement of the two handles.

In a still further embodiment, the driving mechanism may include adriving chain that travels in a loop around two sprockets. A first, freespinning sprocket is arranged near the front of the vehicle. A second,driving sprocket is fixidly attached to the driving axle, to forcerotation of the driving axle in the direction of the rotation of thedriving sprocket.

A forward driving catch may be arranged over the chain and move forwardand backward along with the foot slide in response to motion of thepumper arm. The forward driving catch may be activated by a squeezelever or other mechanism on the handle, or any other mechanical orelectrically-assisted activation device. When activated, the forwarddriving catch closes over the chain and catches and pulls on the topsegment of the chain as it moves forward with the foot slide. As the topof the chain is driven forward, the rearward driving sprocket is alsodriven forward along with the axle and attached wheels. Thus, themobility vehicle is driven forward in response to pumper arm movement.

The forward driving catch preferably provides a ratchet-like action thatcatches and drives the chain forward during forward movement of thecatch, but slides rearward freely without catching the chain. This canbe accomplished, for instance, by providing engaging edges on theforward end of the catch that catch on the chain as the forward drivingcatch moves forward. The rearward end of the catch, however, can beopen, or slanted away from the chain so that the forward driving catchslides freely rearward without engaging the chain.

A reverse mechanism can be provided in a similar manner. Specifically, arearward driving catch can also be provided over a bottom segment of thechain and move forward and rearward along with the foot slide. Therearward driving catch may be activated by a squeeze handle or otheractivation device. When activated, the rearward driving catch closesover the chain and catches and pulls forward on the bottom of the chainas it moves forward with the foot slide as the pumper arm is pulled. Asthe bottom of the chain is pulled forward, the driving sprocket anddriving axle are driven in reverse, causing rearward motion of themobility vehicle. The reverse driving catch may have a ratchet-likeconstruction similar to the forward driving catch such that it grabs andpulls the chain during forward movement, but slides freely along thechain during rearward movement.

In an alternative embodiment, the chain may be replaced by a belt orother driving system that circles around a free spinning front wheel orpulley and the rearward driving axle. The belt can be configured toprovide the driving force to the axle, and the forward and rearwarddriving catches can be configured to pull the belt in a forwarddirection along the top or bottom of the belt, respectively, to drivethe axle in the desired direction for forward or rearward movement ofthe vehicle.

In addition to the forward and rearward settings, a neutral setting mayalso be provided in which the foot slide and pumper arms do not engagethe driving chain or belt. This setting may be provided to disable thepump-action power when a service provider desires to push or pull thevehicle without possible interference by the vehicle occupant, or when avehicle occupant desires to coast.

Various other designs and embodiments are also contemplated and numerousvariations to the specific designs identified above are possible withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts. Forinstance, the belt or chain could be a belt, chain, rope, cable, or anyother structure or material that wraps around the pulleys or gears. Thedriving mechanism could have a gripper, actuator, or catch on one orboth sides of belt, chain, rope, cable, or other material. If arrangedon both sides, the mechanisms could be configured to catch on oppositesides and move in opposite directions. Having described and illustratedprinciples of the present inventive concepts on in various preferredembodiments thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can bemodified in arrangement and detail without departing from suchprinciples.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump-action mobility vehicle comprising: aframe; at least one pumper arm connected to the frame and configured topivot rearward and forward around a pivot point to provide a pumpingaction; a foot slide slidably mounted with respect to the frame andconnected to the pumper arm such that the foot slide moves forward andrearward in response to the pumping action; a steering arm connectedthrough the pumper arm to a steering mechanism that is arranged tocontrol a direction of travel of the vehicle; a belt or chain connectedaround a free spinning wheel and a drive wheel, wherein the drive wheelis fixed to a driving axle to drive movement of the driving axle inresponse to movement of the drive wheel; a driving mechanism arranged onthe belt or chain and configured to drive the belt or chain in a forwarddirection in response to movement of the pumper arm when the drivingmechanism is in a forward driving configuration; and a reverse mechanismconfigured to move the driving mechanism from a forward drivingconfiguration to a rearward driving configuration such that the drivingmechanism is configured to drive the belt or chain in a rearwarddirection in response to movement of the pumper arm when the drivingmechanism is in the rearward driving configuration.
 2. The mobilityvehicle of claim 1, further comprising a neutral setting wherein thedriving mechanism is disengaged to permit easy pushing, pulling, orcoasting of the vehicle.
 3. The mobility vehicle of claim 1, wherein thedriving mechanism comprises a driving catch that is configured to pivotbetween a forward driving position and a rearward driving position toswitch the driving mechanism between the forward driving configurationand the rearward driving configuration.
 4. The mobility vehicle of claim3, wherein the driving catch engages the belt or chain in a forwarddirection but slides freely along the belt or chain in a rearwarddirection when the driving catch is in a forward driving position. 5.The mobility vehicle of claim 3, wherein the driving catch engages thebelt or chain in a rearward direction but slides freely along the beltor chain in a forward direction when the driving catch is in a rearwarddriving position.
 6. The mobility vehicle of claim 3, wherein the beltcomprises teeth configured to engage with the driving catch.
 7. Themobility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the foot slide is connected to thepumper arm through transfer arms and adjustable transfer linkages. 8.The mobility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a motor configuredto provide a power assist to help drive the vehicle.
 9. The mobilityvehicle of claim 8, further comprising a selector switch that enables anoperator to select how much assistance to receive from the motor. 10.The mobility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the selector switch enables theoperator to select anywhere between zero assistance to maximumassistance from the motor.
 11. A pump-action mobility vehiclecomprising: a pump-action arm configured to provide movement to thevehicle when pumped; a foot slide connected to an end of the pump-actionarm to move in response to the pump-action; a chain or belt assemblythat engages a drive wheel on an axle to provide rotational movement tothe axle; and a drive mechanism configured to selectively engage thechain or belt assembly to drive the chain or belt assembly in a desireddirection.
 12. The pump-action mobility vehicle according to claim 11,further comprising a reverse mechanism configured to cause the drivemechanism to selectively engage the chain or belt assembly to drive thechain or belt assembly in an opposite direction.
 13. The pump-actionmobility vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the drive mechanismcomprises a catch rotatably mounted to a base such that in a firstposition it drives the chain or belt in a forward direction and in asecond position it drives the chain or belt in a reverse direction. 14.The pump-action mobility vehicle according to claim 13, furthercomprising a selector connected to the drive mechanism to selectivelypivot the catch from the first position to the second position.
 15. Thepump-action mobility vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising asteering arm arranged within the pump-action arm and configured to steerthe vehicle.
 16. The pump-action mobility vehicle according to claim 15,wherein the steering arm connects to a steering bar through a universaljoint arranged at a pivot point of the pump-action arm, and wherein thesteering bar connects to a steering mechanism that pivots a front wheel.17. A pump-action mobility vehicle comprising: a frame; a pump armconnected to the frame and having a pivot point; a steering armconnected to the pump arm through a universal joint, wherein theuniversal joint is aligned with a center of the pivot point; and asteering bar connected to a steering mechanism that turns one or morefront wheels of the vehicle from side to side in response to turning ofthe pump arm; a foot slide connected to the pump arm and configured toslide forward and backward in response to a pumping action of the pumparm; and a drive mechanism that drives the mobility vehicle in responseto the pumping action of the pump arm.
 18. The pump-action mobilityvehicle of claim 17, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a catch thatselectively engages a chain or belt in a first direction to drive anaxle of the mobility vehicle.
 19. The pump-action mobility vehicle ofclaim 18, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a reversemechanism configured to drive the axle in a reverse direction.
 20. Thepump-action mobility vehicle of claim 19, wherein the reverse mechanismpivots the catch such that it selectively engages the chain or belt inan opposite direction to the first direction.